Now that winter is coming around; you’ll have all the time in the world to relax at home away from the wet, cold, and windy weather. What better way to relax than with a beer in hand?
While your everyday go-to beer will always be your favourite to enjoy, there’s nothing wrong with trying something a little different and even a little stronger once in a while.
Cask-matured beers are ideal for this, as they’ll carry the accent of the cask into their flavour profile to create something truly unique to drink.
Today we’ve compiled some of the best cask-matured beers to try before 2022 ends!
Innis & Gunn Islay Whiskey Cask
If you also happen to be a fan of west coast Scotch, this combination may be the drink you’ve been looking for. Innis and Gunn are known for crafting beers that are not only memorable but beers that aren’t afraid to try new and exciting flavour palettes. Their cask matured beers are no different.
One beer of note is the Islay whiskey cask beer. Using rare Laphroaig Quarter Casks, Innis and Gunn have slowly matured their signature beer to create something that has a taste reminiscent of the bold taste Laphroaig is known for.
This particular beer has matured over the course of 12 weeks in the casks, and it shows. Coming in at 7.4%, this Scottish Red Ale has undertones of woodsmoke, peat, sea salt, and burnt toffee from the casks that compliment the Innis and Gunn blend perfectly. The final result is a peat smoke and brine flavour profile complimented with vanilla and floral notes.
Definitely worth a try!
Innis & Gunn Caribbean Rum Cask
For those who want something more tropical-inspired to get them through the Autumn and Winter seasons, why not give the Caribbean Rum Cask brew a go?
This striking beer boasts the best Scottish Red Ale combined with classic Caribbean flavours to produce a magnificent result for the palette. The beer profile is fortified with Gunn Ale Malt, Chocolate Malt and Roasted Barley for a perfect finish.
With notes of a fruity rum and chocolate-inspired aroma, it combines the punch that Caribbean rum is known for with its flavour and the full-bodied taste that Innis and Gunn are known for. This beer clocks in at 6.8% ABV with a lasting taste that is described as both mellow and warm.
Choose to go for something a bit different!
Firestone Walker Parabola Stout
For those fans of stouts, the Firestone Walker Parabola Imperial Stout is a wonderful beverage to try. This beer is part of an annual release from the Proprietor’s Vintage Series, meaning you’ll need to be quick to catch a bottle. It is widely considered one of the best beers the Firestone Walker has brewed, and for a good reason.
This beer has been matured in a mixture of:
- 6-year Templeton Rye whiskey barrels
- 8-year Buffalo Bourbon barrels
- 12-year Wheated Weller whiskey barrels
This gives the beer a wonderful mix of coffee, dark chocolate, and black cherry flavours (that are often associated with bourbons).
Certainly not a beer to skip if you drink stouts often.
Russian River Supplication
Ever had a beer that’s been matured using Pinot Noir casks before? Well, now is your chance! Russian River has introduced its Supplication beer. This brown ale is matured over 12 months in pinot noir casks from their local Sonoma County wineries.
This particular ale is finished with Brettanomyces, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus yeasts, and sour cherries to give it a distinct flavour that you won’t soon forget.
You end up with a well-rounded flavour from the pinot noir, oak and cherries that go very well with the funk provided by the yeasts – with a bitterness that permeates each mouthful. It has seasonal availability and clocks in with an ABV of 7.0%.
Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout (Kentucky Fog)
Last on our list of cask-matured beers is the Kentucky Fog Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. This beer is heavily inspired by the London Fog latte and is designed to be a Kentucky version of the drink.
Using the unique flavour profiles of clover honey, earl grey, and black tea, you end up with a very floral flavour that is diverse as it is peculiar in all the right ways.
Boasting a silky feel and fruity flavour unlike any other, this stout is worth a try and comes in with an ABV of 14.1%.
Conclusion
If you are a beer lover, there’s plenty more to explore from breweries all over the globe. Get adventurous with your beer this year and try something new. You never know. You may find a new favourite!
